Nabire. The Nabire region, Central Papua, was rocked by two major earthquakes within hours on Friday. The main quake struck at 1:19 a.m. local time with a magnitude of 6.5, followed by a second quake measuring 5.1 at 5:53 a.m.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that the quakes did not trigger a tsunami. Based on the epicenter report, the main quake occurred inland around Nabire, Central Papua, at a depth of 24 km. The second aftershock, with a magnitude of 5.1, was centered inland, 23 km northwest of Nabire, at a depth of 20 km.

“The main quake was a shallow earthquake caused by the activity of the Weyland thrust fault, with an upward movement mechanism (thrust fault). As of 01:47 a.m., four aftershocks had been recorded, the strongest reaching magnitude 4.2,” said BMKG’s Director of Earthquake and Tsunami, Daryono, on Friday.

Daryono said official information regarding seismic activity can only be obtained through BMKG communication channels, including its official website, mobile application, and verified social media accounts.

“Ensure your home is safe before reoccupying it, especially if there are cracks or damage caused by the quake,” Daryono added.

Previously, Nabire has been known as one of the earthquake-prone areas in Papua due to its location on an active tectonic plate boundary. Over the past two decades, at least three major earthquakes have struck the region, claiming lives.

According to Daryono, the first incident occurred on February 5, 2004, when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Nabire. The powerful tremor damaged hundreds of buildings and killed 37 people. Just three days later, on February 8, 2004, another quake measuring 6.7 hit the region, killing 2 people.

Less than a year later, on November 26, 2004, a strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Nabire once again. The massive shaking devastated the infrastructure and claimed 32 lives.

These events serve as a reminder that Nabire lies in an active seismic zone and is highly vulnerable to disasters. Experts warn of the urgent need for stronger disaster mitigation measures, both in terms of infrastructure preparedness and public awareness, to minimize the impact should another major earthquake strike in the future.

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